Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-05
FRANCE AND HER NEW PRESIDENT.

There runs saying that " the unex-
pected happens in France" 1t has proved
true in this year of grace. 1t was wholly
unexpected that such crisis would be
reached as to compel NJ. Grevy to resign
the Presidency. 1t was unexpected that a
man would be chosen to succeed him
whose political fame has not much ex-
tended beyond the confines of France. At
this distance We really know little more of
NJ. Sadi-Carnot than we could expect the
French people to know of any one of a
score of our average Congressman. We
can only hope that the right man has been
called to the high trust. That he is not
widely known is possibly in his favor
Men who have not been deeply involved
in national politics, and are esteemed for
strong personal traits of character, are
sometimes the safest to choose to admins
ter national affairs. A mans negative DO
litical qualities are sometimes as useful to
his nation, even more so often, than the
positive and aggressive in more prominent
figures. If the adage that the unexpected
happens in France holds good, we have
reason to believe that the Republic will be
preserved, since the expectation is so great
that it Will be overthrow. The Fremont
lions of impending ruin really point to
nothing definite to supplant Republican
ism they quite as much indicate Monarch
ism, or the Commune, or Anarchy, or
Bourbon domination. Where the anti
Republican seers are so much at fault that
they dare not forecast any posi-
tive outcome of the present unrest,
the Republic must be stronger than
its enemies would have US believe. Our
news from France, remarks the New York
Tribune, has strong English flavor, and
with the English sympathy for the Or
leanists is undisguised Their distrust
and voiced fears, it adds, ought to give
Americans buoyant feeling of confidence
that the French republic is not in so great
strait as is represented. Yet the Tribune
will not deny that the situation is grave
enough. While We need not despair of
republic being maintained in France, We
should not underestimate the strength of
the forces opposed to it.
The most We know of N. Carnot. the
new President, is that he is Conservative
IN politics; a man not of strong views, but
OF great caution, but not caution that NAV
amount TO lack of vigor He is not a
brilliant man, but one who has convictions
OF what is right, and will sufficient to
stand by his belief In fact that is to be
SAID OF President Carnot that might be
said of hundreds of manly, quiet con-
scientlous government-serving citizens
Carnot comes, however, of family of Re
publicans. He has served with ability *
Project of the Department of Seine-Inferi-
cure, Eure and Caivados. He went early
into the National Assembly in 1871. but
seldom mounted the tribune, or was heard
IN the political controversies. He came
TO the Chamber Of Deputies in 1875 on an
issue that put him in the position of an
Incorporating friend of the republic. In
the Chamber he was heard from oftener,
but never was involved in anv
hot contests; gravity of |
word and conduct, and reserve of manner
keeping him out of personal encounters. |
After the fall of Ferry he became Minis
Ter Of Finance, having Heretofore been